Jada Faust: From Engineering to Nuclear Reactor Operator

From veterinary school dreams to nuclear reactor operations - Jada Faust took an unconventional path to become one of the first African American female Senior Reactor Operators at Arkansas Nuclear One. In this episode of TNT Podcast, host Cortez "Tony" Scott sits down with Jada to discuss her remarkable three-year journey through nuclear operator licensing. Starting as a mechanical systems engineer at Riverbend Nuclear Station, she made the bold decision to pursue operations when her supervisor left for licensing class. Jada shares candidly about the challenges of being one of only two women in her licensing class, the intense study regimen that had her waking at 4am daily, and how faith sustained her through moments when she wanted to give up. Her story offers both inspiration and practical insights for anyone considering a career in nuclear operations. What You'll Learn: • The pathway from engineering to Senior Reactor Operator • What nuclear operator licensing actually involves (3 years of training) • Challenges faced by women and minorities in the nuclear industry • How to prepare mentally for rigorous NRC exams • The truth about nuclear power vs. media portrayals • Why ALARA principles matter in daily operations About the Guest: Jada Faust is a Senior Reactor Operator at Arkansas Nuclear One. She graduated from Southern University A&M (an HBCU) and began her nuclear career at Riverbend Nuclear Station in Louisiana. She is one of the first African American female SROs at Arkansas Nuclear One and currently works in work management while maintaining her operator qualifications.